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T R A C T A S S O C I A T I O N O F F R I E N D S
1 5 0 1 C h e r r y S t r e e t P h i l a d e l p h i a , P A 1
9 1 0 2 - 1 4 0 3
www.tractassociation.org [email protected]
2015 Friends Calendar
Oh! how pleasant, and beautiful is the spring in a barren field,
where barrenness and deadness fly away. As the spring comes on, the
winter casts her coat and the summer is near. Oh, wait to see and
read these things within. You that have been as barren, and dead
and dry, without sap, until the Sun of righteousness is risen with
healing in his wings, and begins to shine inside. For this is a day
when he has come to visit you; yes, to you who have long sat in
darkenss. Mind the secret springs and the tender plants.
Now you are called to dress the garden; let not the weeds and
wild plants remain. Fretting is a weed; anger is a weed; self-love
and self-will are weeds; pride is a wild plant; covetousness is a
wild plant; lightness and vanity are wild plants and lust the root
of all. And these things have had a room in your garden, and have
been tall and strong: and truth, innocence and equity have been
left out, and could not be found, until the Sun of righteousness
arose, and searched out that which was lost, and brought again that
which was driven away.
Therefore, do not be idle, but come into the vineyard and work.
Your work shall be to watch, and keep out the fowls of the air, the
unclean beasts, the wild bears, and the subtle foxes. He that is
the Husbandman, will pluck up the wild plants and weeds, and make
fences around the vines. He will tell you what to do. He, who is
Father of the vineyard, will be near you. Now, read all this within
yourselves in your heart, or you will stumble. Whatever is not
clear to you, wait for the fulfilling of it. He that believes is
not in a hurry. But, those of you who are only covered with leaves,
the Son will search. You must come to the fall of the leaf, and to
the time of deadness and winter, before the life will appear, and
the living springs are opened. You must cast off your own garments,
and then the Son will clothe you; but he will not clothe you until
you are naked, [stripped of all your secrets, hidden desires, and
self-righteousness]; you must not have, no, not so much as an apron
of fig-leaves to cover your nakedness; for shame must come upon all
flesh.
James Parnell, 1636-1656
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Quotations for the 2015 Friends Calendar are taken from
Scripture (King James Version) unless otherwise indicated and from
the writings of Friends (Quakers) or those writings Friends might
do well to consider. For Scripture, we use the most recent on-line
versions found at www.biblos.com. We hope these citations will lead
to further reflection and study, with consideration of spiritual
and historic context.
Moon phases are from Fred Espenak, Phases of the Moon:
2001-2100. Greenbelt, MD: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center;
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/phase/phasecat.html. Dates are
adjusted for Eastern Standard Time from Greenwich Mean Time. Cover:
An Epistle to Friends, (s.d. probably from Colchester Castle ca.
1656). IN A Memoir of James Parnell, with Letters and Extracts
From
His Writings, by Henry Callaway. London, Charles Gilpin, 1846,
text from http://www.hallvworthington.com/parnellmemoir.html First
Month: Martha Winter Routh, 1743-1817 IN Memoir of the life,
travels, and religious experience of Martha Routh. York: W.
Alexander and Son, 1822.
Second Month: Isaac Penington, 1671 Letter to Catherine Pordage
and another. IN Works of Isaac Penington, vol. 3, p. 485. Glenside
PA: Quaker Heritage Press,
http://www.qhpress.org/texts/penington/letter66.html; also listed
as letter XCII IN
http://hallvworthington.com/Pennington/Letters4.html.
Third Month: Elizabeth Collins, 1755-1831 IN Friends Library:
comprising journals, doctrinal treatises and other writings of the
Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia: ca. 1849, Vol. XI; p.
451.
Fourth Month: The life of Thomas Story: carefully abridged, in
which the principal occurrences and the most interesting remarks
and observations are retained. Philadelphia: 1805; Printed by
Joseph Crukshank; p. 31.
Fifth Month: Sophia Hume, 1702-1774 IN John Kendall, Letters on
Religious Subjects Written by Divers Friends, Deceased, Vol. I,
Philadelphia: Thomas Kite, 1831; reprinted in Friend's Family
Library, Vol. II (no date or publisher given); p. 31.
Sixth Month: John Burnyeat, To Friends in New England, Virginia,
Maryland, Barbados, 3[rd,] 10th month 1677, IN Friends Library:
comprising journals, doctrinal treatises and other writings of the
Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia, ca. 1849, Vol XI; p.
158.
Seventh Month: John Rutty, 1697-1775 IN John Kendall, Letters on
Religious Subjects Written by Divers Friends, Deceased, Vol I,
Phila-delphia: Thomas Kite, 1831 reprinted in Friend's Family
Library, Vol II. (no date or publisher given); p. 16.
Eighth Month: Dorcas Dole, 1685. Salutation of my endeared love.
London: John Bringhurst p. 4. DQC
Ninth Month: John Woolman, 1775. Remarks On Sundry Subjects,
INWorks of John Woolman Printed and sold by J. Phillips London
DQC.
Tenth Month: John Burnyeat, 20th 4th month 1678 To the Women's
Meeting in Cumberland, IN Friends Library: comprising journals,
doctrinal treatises and other writings of the Religious Society of
Friends. Philadelphia, ca. 1849, Vol XI; p. 159.
Eleventh Month: Margaret Fell, 1656 In An Epistle to Convinced
Friends In The Life of Margaret Fox, wife of George Fox, compiled
from her own narrative and other sources with a selection from her
epistles, etc. Philadelphia: 1885. Book Association of Friends p.
88. DQC.
Twelfth Month: Isaac Penington, 7th, 7 month, 1671, Letter to
Catherine Pordage and another. IN Works of Isaac Penington, vol. 3,
p. 485. Glenside PA: Quaker Heritage Press,
http://www.qhpress.org/texts/penington/letter66.html; listed as
letter XCII IN
http://hallvworthington.com/Pennington/Letters4.html.
We thank Noah Baker Merrill, Marshall Massey and others who have
contributed texts for the 2015 calendar.
We are grateful to staff and volunteers at Pendle Hill
Conference and Retreat Center, Wallingford PA for hospitality. Our
thanks to Anita Weber for editorial assistance in preparing the
2015 Friends Calendar, Quaker Heritage Press for their on-line
offerings, and Earlham School of Religion, which provides the
Digital Quaker Collection (DQC). http://esr.earlham.edu/dqc/
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2015 Friends Calendar First Month
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1 2 3 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH
DAY SEVENTH DAY
SECOND MONTH TWELFTH MONTH
1 2 3 4 5 6
8 9 10 11 12 13 7
15 16 17 18 19 20 14
22 23 24 25 26 27 21
29 30 31 28
Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose
his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MOON PHASES Too few are willing to become the disciples of our
blessed Lord, by taking up their cross in the denial of self.
Martha Winter Routh, 1743-1817
Full Moon 4
Last Qtr. 13
New Moon 20
First Qtr. 26
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2015 Friends Calendar Second Month
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH
DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY
THIRD MONTH FIRST MONTH
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10 4
12 13 14 15 16 17 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 25
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
2 3 4 5 6 7 1
9 10 11 12 13 14 8
16 17 18 19 20 21 15
22 24 25 26 27 28 22
30 31 29
MOON PHASES
Full Moon 3
Last Qtr 11
New Moon 18
First Qtr 25
O hear the voice of the living God! His word is near, near you;
and his word has a voice that speaks. O that the ear that can hear,
-might be opened in you! And the ear stopped, which will not,
cannot hear the voice of the Shepherd! Oh wait for the Reprover!
and turn the ear to him, letting in his reproofs, and turning from
what he reproves for, without murmuring, without disputing; and the
exercise of that ear, will open it more and more.
Isaac Penington, 1671
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and
he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he
putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep
follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:2-4
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2015 Friends Calendar Third Month
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH
DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY
SECOND MONTH FOURTH MONTH
1 2 3 4
6 7 8 9 10 11 5
13 14 15 16 17 18 12
20 21 22 23 24 25 19
27 28 29 30 26
Often when things have been presented to my mind to offer, I
have given way to reasoning and a fear of being deceived, or
getting before my true guide, so that I have lingered too much
behind; and thereby brought great darkness over my mind. But my
great and good master, who knew my heart, and that it was not
stubbornness or willful, but a fear of missing my way in mercy
looked upon my weakness, and again admitted me into favour with
him. Elizabeth Collins, 1755-1831
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
MOON PHASES
Full Moon 5
Last Qtr. 13
New Moon 20
First Qtr. 27
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Let us hold fast our profession Let us there-fore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace
to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4: 14, 16
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2015 Friends Calendar Fourth Month
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
1 2 3 4 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY
SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY
26 27 28 29 30
THIRD MONTH FIFTH MONTH
1 2
4 5 6 7 8 9 3
11 12 13 14 15 16 10
18 19 20 21 22 23 17
25 26 27 28 29 30 24
31
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4: 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
MOON PHASES
Full Moon 4
Last Qtr. 11
New Moon 18
First Qtr. 25
During this Time of Silence, I clearly beheld the contrary
Natures and End of these diverting Spirits; the one Truth, the
other Error; the one Light, the other Darkness; the one for Moral
Virtue, and the pure Mind, and the other for a loose unbounded
Liberty; and yet that these last, as Creatures, did not see the
Sophistry of the evil One, to whom themselves were Instruments, not
the Snare, but intended will, in their own View, and Way of
conceiving things. Thomas Story 1662-1742
Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the
world.
1 John 4:1
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2015 Friends Calendar Fifth Month
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
1 2 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH
DAY SEVENTH DAY
25 26 27 28 29 30
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
FOURTH MONTH SIXTH MONTH
1 2 3 4 5 6
8 9 10 11 12 13 7
15 16 17 18 19 20 14
22 23 24 25 26 27 21
29 30 28
MOON PHASES
Do not let your adorning be externalthe braiding of hair and the
putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wearbut let your
adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in Gods sight is very
precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to
adorn themselves. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an
understanding way, showing honor to the woman
I Peter 3: 3-5, 7 (ESV)
Full Moon 3
Last Qtr. 11
New Moon 17
First Qtr. 25
1 2 3 4
6 7 8 9 10 11 5
13 14 15 16 17 18 12
20 21 22 23 24 25 19
27 28 29 30 26
Then I was ashamed in my own sight, when I saw his purity: I
could not delight to adorn my body, when I saw the nakedness of my
soul, I left feeling immoderately for the body, and was made
willing in the day of God's power to be stript of my delights, that
I might be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
Sophia Hume, 1702-1774
31
24
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2015 Friends Calendar Sixth Month
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
1 2 3 4 5 6 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY
SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY
28 29 30
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
FIFTH MONTH SEVENTH MONTH Let it be everyone's care, to wait for
a clear and sensible feeling of that same power in its own pure
nature, to spring in your hearts everyday, and then will your
delight so be in it, and your acquaintance, in a clear
understanding, will be so with it, that you will never be deceived,
so as to take any other for it ...
1 2
4 5 6 7 8 9 3
11 12 13 14 15 16 10
18 19 20 21 22 23 17
25 26 27 28 29 30 24
31
1 2 3 4
6 7 8 9 10 11 5
13 14 15 16 17 18 12
20 21 22 23 24 25 19
27 28 29 30 31 26
MOON PHASES
Full Moon 2
Last Qtr. 9
New Moon 16
First Qtr. 24
...Then to your comfort, will your heavenly peace spring under
the power and government of him that is the prince of true peace...
your hearts be made truly glad, and weighty and ponderous, and not
be carried about by every wind.
John Burnyeat, 1677
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2015 Friends Calendar Seventh Month
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
1 2 3 4 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY
SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY
26 27 28 29 30 31
SIXTH MONTH EIGHTH MONTH
MOON PHASES
Full Moon 1
Last Qtr. 8
New Moon 15
First Qtr. 23
Full Moon 31
1 2 3 4 5 6
8 9 10 11 12 13 7
15 16 17 18 19 20 14
22 23 24 25 26 27 21
29 30 28
1
3 4 5 6 7 8 2
10 11 12 13 14 15 9
17 18 19 20 21 22 16
24 25 26 27 28 29 23
31 30
Let reason be exercised; not to pride and ostentation of
science, but as God's precious gift, and let no man of superior
talents and opportunities, cover his spiritual idleness, under
specious claims to divine inspiration.
John Rutty, 1697-1775
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts. Isaiah 55: 8-9
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2015 Friends Calendar Eighth Month
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY
SEVENTH DAY
25 26 27 28 29
SEVENTH MONTH NINTH MONTH
MOON PHASES
The Lord does teach his people of his ways, and gives them power
to stand still and see his great Salvation brought to pass for
their deliverance from all oppression; for it is but a very little
while and all those that keep to the word of Patience will be
delivered out of all Temptation; and my Prayer to God is, That he
will preserve my Soul in Faithfulness among the living in the
Heavenly Jerusalem to the End.
Dorcas Dole, 1685
I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree.
From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand
these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the
LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them:
Hosea 14: 8-9
1 2 3 4
6 7 8 9 10 11 5
13 14 15 16 17 18 12
20 21 22 23 24 25 19
27 28 29 30 31 26
1 2 3 4 5
7 8 9 10 11 12 6
14 15 16 17 18 19 13
21 22 23 24 25 26 20
28 29 30 27
Last Qtr. 6
New Moon 14
First Qtr. 22
Full Moon 29
31
24 23
30
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2015 Friends Calendar Ninth Month
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY
SEVENTH DAY
27 28 29 30
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2 3 4 5
EIGHTH MONTH TENTH MONTH
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10 4
12 13 14 15 16 17 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 25
Friends in early Time refused, on a religious Principle, to make
or trade in Superfluities, of which we have many large Testimonies
on Record, but for want of Faithfulness some gave way, even some
whose Examples were of Note in Society, and from thence others took
more Liberty: Members of our Society worked in Superfluities, and
bought and sold them, and thus Dimness of Sight came over many. At
length, Friends got into the Use of some Superfluities in Dress,
and in the Furniture of their Houses, and this hath spread from
less to more, till Superfluity of some Kind is common amongst us.
John Woolman, 1775
1
3 4 5 6 7 8 2
10 11 12 13 14 15 9
17 18 19 20 21 22 16
24 25 26 27 28 29 23
31 30
MOON PHASES
Last Qtr. 5
New Moon 13
First Qtr. 21
Full Moon 27
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Matthew 6:28
The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into
singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55: 12
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2015 Friends Calendar Tenth Month
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1 2 3 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH
DAY SEVENTH DAY
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
NINTH MONTH ELEVENTH MONTH Yourselves know that he who, through
his bounty has blessed us with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus,
so that we are made stewards of his manifold graces, doth now
require answerable service from us all, according to our gifts
received from him; and whosoever is found faithful to their gifts
and places, shall certainly witness an increase and grow in grace
and in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and so come
more and more into true soundness, to the spirit of a sound mind
.... John Burnyeat, 1678
1 2 3 4 5
7 8 9 10 11 12 6
14 15 16 17 18 19 13
21 22 23 24 25 26 20
28 29 30 27
2 3 4 5 6 7 1
9 10 11 12 13 14 8
16 17 18 19 20 21 15
23 24 25 26 27 28 22
30 29
MOON PHASES
Last Qtr. 4
New Moon 12
First Qtr. 20
First Qtr. 27
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in
stewards, that a man be found faithful.
I Corinthians 4: 1-2
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2015 Friends Calendar Eleventh Month
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH
DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY
TENTH MONTH TWELFTH MONTH
1 2 3 4 5
7 8 9 10 11 12 6
14 15 16 17 18 19 13
21 22 23 24 25 26 20
28 29 30 31 27
MOON PHASES
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10 4
12 13 14 15 16 17 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 25
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
In the measure of light received from the Father and fountain of
light and life, all wait, and dwell; and to the life raised by the
immortal Word of life, join your minds; and pass from death to
life, that so you may come to know and witness the true love that
is to the brethren, where unity is, whereby you all may know that
you are true disciples; in that you love one another; and here you
fulfil the whole law, and keep the new commandment, which your Lord
and Master has commanded. Margaret Fell, 1656
Last Qtr. 3
New Moon 11
First Qtr. 19
Full Moon 25
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with
you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for
he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye
have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of
light. John 12: 35-36
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2015 Friends Calendar Twelfth Month
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY
SEVENTH DAY
27 28 29 30 31
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2 3 4 5
ELEVENTH MONTH FIRST MONTH
1 2
4 5 6 7 8 9 3
11 12 13 14 15 16 10
18 19 20 21 22 23 17
25 26 27 28 29 30 24
31
2 3 4 5 6 7 1
9 10 11 12 13 14 8
16 17 18 19 20 21 15
23 24 25 26 27 28 22
30 29
And if you walk faithfully in this dispensation, ye shall in due
time know another when the work of this is over; for really,
friends, ye must be emptied of that wherewith you are now filled,
before ye can be filled with that which is true and living Be
afraid of that which comforts you in your present state You must
die to your own wisdom if ever ye will be born of and walk in the
wisdom of God.
Isaac Penington, 1671
MOON PHASES
Last Qtr. 3
New Moon 11
First Qtr. 18
Full Moon 25
For ye were sometimes dark-ness, but now are ye light in the
Lord: walk as children of light:
Ephesians 5: 8
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2015
2016
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24 25 26 27 28 29 23
30 31
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
1 2 3 4
6 7 8 9 10 11 5
13 14 15 16 17 18 12
20 21 22 23 24 25 19
27 28 29 30 26
1 2 3 4 5
8 9 10 11 12 7 6
15 16 17 18 19 14 13
22 23 24 25 26 21 20
29 30 28 27
2 3 4 5 6 7 1
9 10 11 12 13 14 8
16 17 18 19 20 21 15
23 24 25 26 27 28 22
30 31 29
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
1 2 3 4 5
8 9 10 11 12 7 6
15 16 17 18 19 14 13
22 23 24 25 26 21 20
29 30 28 27
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10 4
12 13 14 15 16 17 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 25
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10 4
12 13 14 15 16 17 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 18
26 27 28 29 30 25
1 2 3 4
7 8 9 10 11 6 5
14 15 16 17 18 13 12
21 22 23 24 25 20 19
28 29 30 27 26
1
3 4 5 6 7 8 2
10 11 12 13 14 15 9
17 18 19 20 21 22 16
24 25 26 27 28 29 23
30 31
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
3 4 5 6 7 2 1
10 11 12 13 14 9 8
17 18 19 20 21 16 15
24 25 26 27 28 23 22
29 30 31
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
1 2 3 4
6 7 8 9 10 11 5
13 14 15 16 17 18 12
20 21 22 23 24 25 19
27 28 29 30 31 26
2 3 4 5 6 7 1
9 10 11 12 13 14 8
16 17 18 19 20 21 15
23 24 25 26 27 28 22
30 29
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10 4
12 13 14 15 16 17 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 25
1 2 3 4 5
8 9 10 11 12 7 6
15 16 17 18 19 14 13
22 23 24 25 26 21 20
29 30 31 28 27
1 2 3 4 5
7 8 9 10 11 12 6
14 15 16 17 18 19 13
21 22 23 24 25 26 20
28 29 30 31 27
1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10 4
12 13 14 15 16 17 11
19 20 21 22 23 24 18
26 27 28 29 30 31 25
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
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Names of the Months and of the Days of the Week
From the practice of the Jews before the Babylonian Captivity,
it seems probable that at first the months were simply numbered,
not named. This is a clear and rational procedure and is found in
the early Scriptures, so the Society of Friends felt called upon to
use the Scriptural names of the days of the week and of the months
instead of those names which are in common use and which are, for
the most part, derived from the names of pagan gods. Other
religions (Christians, Jews and Muslims) as well as Friends have
similar views on this subject. Richard Baxter, the English
non-conformist of the Seventeenth Century, said: "It were to be
wished that the custom were changed of using the names of week-days
which idolators honored their idols with as Saturday, Monday, and
the rest. So for the months." Friends did not object to the names
"September," "October," "November," and "December," but objected to
their use since the months they name are no longer the seventh,
eighth, ninth, and tenth months. January was named for Janus, an
old Roman god. February was named from the Februa, the expiatory
ceremonies which the Romans held in honor of their dead in this
month. March was named for the Roman god Mars, who, at the time of
the naming of the month, was primarily a god of agriculture, the
symbol of spring-time and youth. It was only after the artificial
identification of Roman gods with Greek gods that Mars became the
god of war, the counterpart of Ares. April is derived from the same
root as the Latin aperire, which means "to open". Thus April is the
month of opening buds and flowers. May is of uncertain origin,
perhaps from the Roman goddess Maia, or from maiores (the older).
June may have been named for the Roman goddess Juno, or from
iuniores (the younger). July, originally Quinctilis, was renamed
for Julius Caesar, who was born in that month. August, originally
Sextilis, was chosen by the Roman emperor Augustus to be renamed in
his honor because of the many fortunate events in his life that had
occurred in that month. The practice of naming the days of the week
is derived from Egyptian astronomy. It did not become firmly
established in our civilization until the time of Theodosius at the
end of the Fourth Century C.E. Curiously enough, it was the Roman
custom of lettering the successive days of a nundinum (a period of
eight days, in addition to the current day) which gave rise to the
modern custom in some Christian groups whereby the dominical letter
is determined. The days of the week are lettered from A to G, just
as the Romans lettered the days of a nundinum from A to H.
According to the Egyptian astronomers the sun and moon were planets
and the order of the planets in terms of their distance from the
earth was as follows: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, sun, Venus, Mercury,
moon. One hour of each day, beginning with the first, was
consecrated to each of these "planets". The whole day was
consecrated to the planet to which belonged the first hour. If the
first day be consecrated to the sun, to which belongs the first
hour, then the first hour of the next day will belong to the moon
and the day will be the moon's day (Monday) and so on. After the
cycle has been completed, the first hour of the eighth day will
belong to the sun again, and it will again be the sun's day
(Sunday). Our names of the days of the week are derived from
Anglo-Saxon names and these in turn are named for the Saxon gods
who approximate to the Roman gods for whom the days were named. The
Roman names have survived, to an extent, in Spanish, French,
Italian and other languages derived from or greatly influenced by
Latin. The day of Mars was called the day of Tiw, the god of war
(Tuesday). The day of Mercury was called the day of Woden, chief of
the gods, whose attributes corresponded more nearly to those of the
Roman Mercury than to those of Jupiter, chief of the Roman gods
(Wednesday). The day of Jupiter, who was believed to hurl
thunderbolts, was called the day of Thor, the god of thunder
(Thursday). The day of Venus was called the day of Frigg, queen of
the gods, who was sometimes confused or identified with Freyia the
goddess of love (Friday). The seventh day was still called the day
of Saturn, the sower of seed (Saturday). No doubt most Christians
unthinkingly use these names, or else they use them merely in
conformity to the general custom. Although general custom can, in
the long run, determine the correctness of language and vocabulary,
it cannot pass upon right and wrong. And so, some Christians still
feel that the use of these names for months and days, derived as
they are from non-Christian sources, is inconsistent with the
tenets of the Christian faith.
Published by the Tract Association of Friends, 1501 Cherry
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-1403
www.tractassociation.org; [email protected]